A New Vision of the Scapegoat (Parashat Pinchas)

July 18, 2008 | By Ri J. Turner

Commentary on the scapegoat. Whether killed by the knife or abandoned in the woods, the sin-offering goat is a potent symbol. What does it mean to release our sins—or relieve our worries about being held accountable—not by repairing the damage we have caused, but rather by enacting further violence upon an innocent third party? The author argues that both Jews and LGBTQ people have been victim to scapegoating.